British mother drowns saving sons from rip tide in the Bahamas
Leanne Gregory, 36, from Nottinghamshire, drowned while trying to save her sons after a rip tide swept them into dangerous water off Bimini in the Bahamas. Her husband, Nathan, said she held their youngest son above water until a rescue boat arrived, but a wave swept her away moments after he was brought aboard.
The family had arrived in the Bahamas for a cruise marking their tenth wedding anniversary, which was due in December. Nathan reached their older son but was pulled down by the waves, so he called for help while the boy floated on his back; beachgoers eventually alerted a passing boat. Nathan and others recovered Leanne and gave her CPR, but she died after being taken to hospital.
In short
- Leanne Gregory drowned trying to save her sons in the Bahamas.
- A rescue boat took her youngest son to safety.
- Her husband says a wave swept her away moments later.
Explained simply
Rip currents are powerful channels of water that can pull swimmers away from shore. They can form suddenly and are difficult to swim against, so beach safety advice is generally to avoid fighting the current and signal for help.
Bimini is a group of islands in the Bahamas, a country in the Caribbean visited by cruise passengers and holidaymakers. The incident involved a family from Nottinghamshire who were swimming there during a cruise.
The account describes how the family’s parents and rescuers tried to bring the boys to safety, and how Leanne Gregory died after being swept away. It highlights the dangers of swimming in changing sea conditions and the challenges of rescuing people in open water.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “‘I screamed with all my heart for a passing boat’: Husband of British woman, 36, who drowned saving sons in Bahamas sea recalls harrowing moment he lost her on 10-year anniversary trip”.